5G and Connectivity Testing

At a glance

Millbrook provides a means for customers to develop remote vehicle operations across a secure cellular 4G LTE and 5G network. It enables demonstrations and testing of connected and autonomous vehicle capabilities.

5G Test Bed

As part of the AutoAir project led by Dense Air Ltd, Millbrook is hosting the UK 5G test bed for transport at its UK proving ground. The project includes deploying a cellular 4G LTE and 5G network, as well as 802.11p and 70GHz Millimetre Wave (mmWave) connectivity throughout its 700 acre site.

Its 5G test bed offers a safe and secure connection with ultra-high reliability and low latency. It is the only environment of its scale in Europe for new and emerging technologies and services in the connected vehicle sector.

Demonstrations

Telecommunications companies often demonstrate and test vehicles on public highways. This means they test in uncontrolled environments and must constantly rely on public 5G connectivity, which may not provide adequate 5G speed.

Millbrook’s private network allows customers to demonstrate proof of concept to investors and demonstrate features of self-driving cars and other devices to customers. Its 5G test bed and hyper-dense small cell network can be used as a secure, safe test area for initial development of control systems.

“The AutoAir project is a great demonstration of how partnerships can help shape the use cases and drive the benefits that we all want to see from 5G. Test networks at sites like Millbrook will be crucial in understanding how 5G will enable the development of connected and autonomous vehicles as well as the associated business and consumer use cases which will transform the automotive sector.”Brendan O’Reilly, CTO at Telefónica UK

5G Connectivity

With extensive coverage on a private 4G LTE and 5G network, the 5G test bed offers secure connections, reliability and low latency needed to broadcast control signals for test vehicles.

Simulating a 5G-connected highway enables the sharing of sensor data between road users and infrastructure (V2V, V2I, X2X) over a long distance. Customers can stream data via 5G in real-time from the vehicle to a remote location.

“This project will transform the way we design, maintain and operate on our future networks. Developing the first 5G neutral network in the UK will allow us to continue our drive for innovation and industry-changing initiatives for the transportation sector.”Lizi Stewart, Managing Director, Transportation UK, Atkins

“AutoAir at Millbrook is one of the most ambitious 5G Testbeds and Trials sites in the world. AutoAir is directly tackling the key 5G technology and system design challenges that CAVs create. The project has now completed the deployment of a hyper-dense small cell network that delivers ultra-high capacities which enables a range of new CAV use cases to be explored. Everyone in AutoAir consortium is excited to have reached this important milestone.”Paul Senior, Chief Strategy Officer at Airspan Networks, and CEO of Dense Air

A simulator suite enabling vehicle and software developers to develop products in both the physical and the virtual environments

“The development of connected and autonomous vehicles is continuing to move at great speed, so it is important that we do the same. The fast rate of progress in the installation of our 5G-enabled network is testament to the hard work and dedication of the consortium team to ensure CAV developers have all the facilities they need to engineer world-class technology."Alex Burns, President of Millbrook